This Easy Air-Fryer Bloomin’ Onion Is Crunchy, Delicious — & Has 66 Grams Less Fat Than the Original

A bloomin’ onion is a dish made by carving an onion to look like a blossomed flower. The onion is coated in batter and deep-fried until it turns golden. This process gives it a crispy outside and a sweet, tender inside. It’s often served with a dipping sauce and is easy to make at home.

The Perfect Onions

The ideal onions for this snack are sweet varieties because they are large and crisp up nicely. If you’re making smaller, bite-sized versions, use pearl onions.

To make sure the onion isn’t soggy and holds together, sure to soak the onion first. Keep in water overnight in the fridge. Also, make sure you keep the root attached. It will prevent pieces from falling off during cooking.

Air-Fryer Bloomin’ Onion With Smoky Sauce

Ingredients:

• ½ cup bottled Thousand Island salad dressing
• 1 tbsp prepared horseradish (not drained)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 large sweet onion, about 1 lb.
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup half-and-half
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix dressing, horseradish, and paprika; chill. Place the crisper plate in the basket of an air fryer. Coat the plate with cooking spray. Place the basket in the air fryer and heat to air-fry at 300°F.
2. Peel the onion, leaving the root intact. Trim ¼-inch from the bottom of the onion. Without cutting all the way through, cut the onion into 16 wedges. Gently pull the layers away from the center.
3. Whisk the egg and half-and-half. Mix the flour and seasoning. Coat the onion with some of the flour mixture; brush with the egg mixture. Coat in the remaining flour mixture and spray with cooking spray. Air-fry for 10 minutes before covering with foil, and continue cooking it for another 20 to 25 minutes until the onion is tender and the coating is crisp.

Blooming Onion Bites

Ingredients:

• 24 pearl onions
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tsp horseradish
• ¼ tsp dried oregano

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cut pearl onions into blooms by removing the pointy end of each onion, then peel away the outer skin. Don’t cut off the base. Lay the onion cut side down and, starting ⅛ inch from the top, make vertical cuts downward all around the onion, creating five or six slits. The intact base will hold the onion pieces together. Separate the layers with your hands to bloom them out.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and 1 tbsp water. Transfer to a large resealable plastic bag. Add the onions to the bag and toss to coat.
4. In a separate medium bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, flour, sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, onion powder, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper for coating. Pour the mixture into another large resealable plastic bag. Transfer the onions to the bag, seal, and toss until the onions are coated completely.
5. Place onions on the prepared baking sheet, bloom sides up, and spray them with cooking spray. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. If not crispy enough, turn the broiler on high and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning. Let set for 3 to 4 minutes on the pan before serving.
6. For the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients until well combined.